Tropical Explosion Crocheted Afghan

Add a whole explosion of color to your living space with the Tropical Explosion Crocheted Afghan.  Made with bright and bold yarn colors, this lacy afghan is great for year round decorating.  Drape it over your couch to add some color to your living room or use it to keep warm on those chilly summer nights spent out by the fire.  No matter where you display this afghan, it's sure to bring a smile to your face with its bright colors and fun crochet stitch.

Materials:

• 1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Bubble Gum (A)
• 1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Mango (B)
• 1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Hot Pink (C)
• 1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Aubergine (D)
• 1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in True Blue (E)
• 1 skein Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Lettuce (F)
• 1 skien Red Heart® With Love® yarn in Iced Aqua (G)
• 4.5mm [G-6 US] Susan Bates® Crochet Hook
• Yarn needle

Gauge:  1 pattern repeat = 3½” (9 cm); 4 rows = 2½” (6.5 cm) in pattern. Note: One pattern repeat consists of one shell and one single crochet. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Special Stitches:

• Open shell = (dc, [ch 1, dc] 4 times) in indicated stitch.
• Large shell = (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in indicated stitch.

Instructions:
To change color, work last stitch of old color to last yarn over. Yarn over with new color and draw through all loops on hook to complete stitch. Proceed with new color.
Throw measures 56” long x 45” wide

1. With A, ch 146.
    
2. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *ch 3, skip next 5 ch, open shell in next ch, ch 3, skip next 5 ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * across, turn—12 open shells and 13 sc.
    
3. Row 2 (right side): Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 2 dc in first sc, *ch 1, sc in first ch-1 space of next open shell, [ch 3, sc in next ch-1 space] 3 times, ch 1, large shell in next sc;  repeat from * to last open shell, ch 1, sc in first ch-1 space of last open shell, [ch 3, sc in next ch-1 space] 3 times, ch 1, 3 dc in last sc, turn—11 large shells, 36 ch-3 spaces, and 3 dc at each end.
    
4. Row 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st as beginning ch 3, skip next 2 dc, *ch 2, sc in next ch-3 space, [ch 3, sc in next ch-3 space] twice, ch 2, large shell in ch-1 space of next large shell; repeat from * across to last 3 ch-3 spaces, ch 2, sc in next ch-3 space, [ch 3, sc in next ch-3 space] twice, ch 2, skip next 2 dc, 3 dc in top of beginning ch-3, turn—11 large shells, 24 ch-3 spaces, and 3 dc at each end.
    
5. Row 4: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st as beginning ch 3, skip next 2 dc, *[ch 3, sc in next ch-3 space] twice, ch 3, large shell in ch-1 space of next large shell; repeat from * to last 2 ch-3 spaces, [ch 3, sc in next ch-3 space] twice, ch 3, skip next 2 dc, 3 dc in top of beginning ch- 3, change to next color, turn—11 large shells, 36 ch-3 spaces, and 3 dc at each end.
    
6. Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first dc, skip next 2 dc, *ch 3, skip next ch-3 space, open shell in next ch-3 space, ch 3, sc in ch-1 space of large shell; repeat from * to last 3 ch-3 space, ch 3, skip next ch-3  space, open shell in next ch-3 space, ch 3, skip last ch-3 space, skip next 2 dc, sc in top of beginning ch-3, turn—12 open shells and 13 sc.
    
7. Rows 6–85: Repeat Rows 2–5 twenty times, changing color at the end of every Row 4 and working rows in order of the following color sequence: *4 rows with B, 4 rows with C, 4 rows with D, 4 rows with E, 4 rows with F, 4 rows with G, 4 rows with A; repeat from * as needed, ending with A.
    
8. Rows 86–88: Repeat Rows 2–4 once; change to D at end of Row 88. Do not fasten off.

Edging

1. Last round: Ch 1, (sc, ch 3, 2 dc) in first sc, ch 2, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next ch-3 space, ch 2, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-3 space, ch 3, (sc, ch 3, sc) in ch-1 space of next large shell, *ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-3 space, ch 3, (sc, ch 3, sc) in ch-1 space of next large shell; repeat from * to last ch-3 space, ch 2, (sc, ch 3, sc) in last ch-3 space, ch 2, (sc, ch 3, 2 dc) in last sc; (sc, ch 2, dc) in end of each row down side edge; working across opposite side of foundation ch, (sc, ch 3, 2 dc) in first ch, ch 1, (sc, ch 3, sc) in first ch-5 space, ch 1, **(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch (below open shell), ch 3, skip next ch-5 space, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next ch (below large shell), ch 3, skip next ch-5 space; repeat from ** 11 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch (below open shell), ch 1, (sc, ch 3, sc) in last ch-5 space, ch 1, (sc, ch 3, 2 dc) in last ch; (sc, ch 2, dc) in end of each row up other side edge; join with slip st in first sc. Fasten off.